Only through amendment and interpretation by the Supreme Court, NOT by violation of law. That's the fact. And the amendment process worked just as it was designed to, without it we would be like Mexico, the preference of Tucson liberals where their is no rule of law and the legal age for girls is 12 and 90% of girls are sexually abused by the age of 16, mostly by family members.

Let's see. The Constitution was in existence during the period of slavery, when all kinds of human rights abuses were committed, legally, in this country. The Constitution was in existence during the period in which the suffragists were jailed for peacefully demonstrating in favor of women being granted the right to vote. When the suffragists went on hunger strike in the jails where they were imprisoned, asking to be classified as political prisoners and granted the rights of political prisoners, they were force fed. At one point the powers-that-be tried to get at least one of the suffragist leaders committed to a mental institution. These are FACTS in American history. There are others that could be mentioned.

So what was up with the "rights" and "a judicial process that insures those rights" for African Americans before the 13th amendment and women before the 19th amendment? I suppose if some of the commenters in these streams had run across an abolitionist before the 13th amendment or a suffragist before the 19th amendment they would have said "Illegal is illegal - case closed," and the abuses and denial of rights would have continued.

The Constitution is a work in progress. You can respect it and be grateful that we have it without believing that at any given point it is necessarily perfect and necessarily guaranteeing that no failures in the delivery of justice are happening in our country.

On another subject, I'm really tired of the insults and name calling that keep appearing in these streams. Many people are angry about the results of this election, and others are angry about what their political adversaries are saying about the results of this election.

Seems like it should be possible to compare perspectives and opinions without resorting to incivilities.

4 likes, 2 dislikes

Posted by
Achieving Justice is a work in progress.
on 12/09/2016 at 7:17 AM

I go way back with Robby and graduated with him at Sahuaro, he was awesome then as he is now. Everyone of us knew how great he was back then and always enjoyed watching him jam and hanging out with him. The desert parties at 17 poles and at rockafellas was the best. Great job Robby, Tucson is proud of you and so am I

"Then Herod sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under." Matthew 2:16

Legal, according to the law of the day.

There is legal, and then there is ethical. There is legal, and then there is humane.

How many cases throughout history have there been where the law has been out of alignment with what is just? It would be impossible to list them all.

What makes anyone think that American law is more immune from error than German law during the 1930s? Than the law in the USSR during Stalin's purges? Every society has to balance respect for the law with trying to discern cases where what is legal in a particular time and place may not be what is right. That's what individual conscience, for those who believe that such a thing exists, is meant to do.

11 likes, 4 dislikes

Posted by
Case open, for those who believe in "conscience."
on 12/08/2016 at 6:46 PM

Thank you, David, for highlighting this constructive statement of a commitment to protect and nurture every student in a diverse student body. From what I've heard, Phoenix Union has constructively applied the desegregation funding allocated to it to support student needs and achieve student benefit. The ATTITUDE of leadership -- evidenced In statements like this, in the quality of relationships developed with representatives of the courts and plaintiffs, and in how funds are actually applied in the schools or in central admin or in litigation -- is so important in an educational community serving the underserved. A constructive attitude rigorously focused on student benefit has been sadly lacking in some other districts applying desegregation funds.

Dare I think that that may be part of your point here? No, that would probably be too much to ask.

10 likes, 3 dislikes

Posted by
Excellent statement; thanks for posting.
on 12/08/2016 at 5:51 PM